Collapsible disposable ashtray

ABSTRACT

A collapsible, disposable ashtray, in which it is provided at the upper edges of the side members with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members, two of said panels being provided with locking flaps and remaining panels with slots, the panels being so designed, interconnected and folded that when erected from the collapsed position of the ashtray they automatically engage within each other and lock the ashtray in a fully erected position and thereby form the opening of the ashtray and the sloping surface surrounding said opening, and that the ashtray at the lower edges of the side members is provided with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members and which when erecting the ashtray automatically and with similar locking means form the bottom of the ashtray.

United States Patent Ringholm et al.

1 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] COLLAPSIBLE DISPOSABLE ASHTRAY [72] Inventors: Lars Gustav Ringholm, Kallangevagen 30, Lidingo; Rolf Henry Sandberg, Algrytevagen l9, Skarholmen, both of Sweden [22] Filed: Oct. 24, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 869,109

Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attornvy- Fleit. Gipple & Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A collapsible, disposable ashtray, in which it is provided at the upper edges of the side members with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members, two of said panels being provided with locking flaps and remaining panels with slots, the panels being so designed, interconnected and folded that when erected from the collapsed position of the ashtray they automatically engage within each other and lock the ashtray in a fully erected position and thereby form the opening of the ashtray and the sloping surface surrounding said opening, and that the ashtray at the lower edges of the side members is provided with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members and which when erecting the ashtray automatically and with similar locking means form the bottom of the ashtray.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE DISPOSABLE ASHTRAY The present invention relates to a collapsible, disposable ashtray made of a refractory material.

There are a large number of ashtrays of different design known to the art, made from a variety of different materials, such as ceramics, wood, glass, metal or plastic. The prime pur pose of a large majority of these ashtrays is a decorative one, while their function as an ashtray takes a secondary position. The result is often an article which, while undoubtedly decorative, is of small use as an ashtray. Other constructions are found which are effective mechanically and which satisfy the requirements placed upon them as a receptacle of cigarette ash, stubs and the like, but these are far from being decorative articles.

One common disadvantage associated with all ashtrays of the type aforedescribed is that they must be emptied and washed. Considerable time is spent in restaurants, municipal offices, large companies and even in the home in washing used and soiled ashtrays. Furthermore, large companies incur high expenses in purchasing ashtrays or replacing those lost or broken.

These and other related disadvantages are circumvented by means of the present invention, which is mainly characterized in that the ashtray is provided at the upper edges of the side members with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members, two of said panels being provided with locking flaps and remaining panels with slots, the panels being so designed, interconnected and folded that when erected from the collapsed position of the ashtray they automatically engage within each other and lock the ashtray in a fully erected position and thereby form the opening of the ashtray and the sloping surface surrounding said opening, and that the ashtray at the lower edges of the side members is provided with panels arranged in spaced relationship and corresponding in length to the length of the side members and which when erecting the ashtray automatically and with similar locking means form the bottom of the ashtray. The advantages afforded by the ashtray of the present invention are manyfold:

It is extremely inexpensive.

It is highly effective, the particular design of the ashtray causing the cigarette to go out within a few seconds after placing the cigarette therein, owing to a lack of oxygen. Consequently, the cigarette does not lie burning in the ashtray as with other types of ashtrays.

It is hygienic, since it can be used once and then disposed off. Obviously, the ashtray of the invention need not be emptied and cleaned.

It has an attractive design, and a discrete decor renders it a decorative article.

Furthermore, the ashtray of the present invention is so designed that by simple manipulation with the hands it can be extended from a collapsed position owing to a self-lifting bottom portion and, by means of flaps which engage and lock in slots around the opening in the upper side of the ashtray is retained in an extended position.

One selected example of the ashtray of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to make the ashtray of the present invention,

FIG. 1b illustrates a sequence in erecting the ashtray of FIG.

FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a section of the erected ashtray,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the collapsed ash-tray of FIGS. 1, lb and 2,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ashtray partially erected,

and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the ashtray fully erected.

The ashtray comprises four side members rectangular sections 1-4, which are arranged to be joined together by end flap 5, and by pairs of bottom panels or trapezoidal sections 6 and 7 of equal size. Arranged at the upper edges of side members 1-4 are panels or trapezoidal sections 11, the length of which is equal to the length of side members I-4 and which are separated by slots l4, l5 and 16. The panels 8 and 10 are provided with locking flaps 12 and the panels 9 and 11 are provided with slots 13.

The panels 81l, which are so designed, interconnected and folded that they form the opening of the ashtray and the sloping surface surrounding said opening, are defined from the side members l-4 by the folding line 17.

When erecting the ashtray, the side member 1 is folded inwardly through whereafter panel 9 is secured over panel 8 and panel 7 secured over panel 6, and panel 4 is folded inwardly through 90, whereafter panel 11 is secured over panel 10 and panel 7 secured over panel 6 and side member 1 secured over flap 5. The ashtray is now in the erected position as illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible by pressing against the comer of the erected ashtray to lift up the same, whereupon the locking flaps 12 automatically slide into the slots 13 and lock the sloping upper surface of the ashtray in the erected position thereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A blank for use in making a collapsible ashtray, and comprising:

four rectangular sections spaced in line, and separated by scoring;

an end flap connected to one of the end sections and serving to ensure proper closure between the first and fourth sections when the ashtray is erected;

first trapezoidal sections attached to alternate rectangular sections, each first trapezoidal section having a base coextensive with and connected to the upper edge of its rectangular section by scoring and having a lock flap extending therefrom;

second trapezoidal sections attached to the remaining rectangular sections, each second trapezoidal section having a base coextensive with and connected to the upper edge of its rectangular section by scoring, and having slots adapted to engage and to hold respective lock flaps;

a trapezoidal flap extending from and attached by scoring to each second trapezoidal section at a first end thereof;

third trapezoidal sections attached to alternate rectangular sections, the base of each third trapezoidal section being coextensive with and connected by scoring to the lower edge of its rectangular section;

fourth trapezoidal sections attached to the remaining rectangular sections, the base of each fourth trapezoidal section being coextensive with and connected by scoring to the lower edge of its rectangular section;

a triangular flap extending from and attached by scoring to each fourth trapezoidal section at an end thereof, and wherein each of said slots extend, respectively, from a free edge of each of said second trapezoidal sections toward a corner of each of said second trapezoidal sections defined by the intersection of the base and a second end thereof.

2. A blank as in claim 1, wherein each of said slots include an extension located at an angle to said slot to facilitate entry of said lock flaps into the slots and to enhance locking of the lock flaps into the slots. 

1. A blank for use in making a collapsible ashtray, and comprising: four rectangular sections spaced in line, and separated by scoring; an end flap connected to one of the end sections and serving to ensure proper closure between the first and fourth sections when the ashtray is erected; first trapezoidal sections attached to alternate rectangular sections, each first trapezoidal section having a base coextensive with and connected to the upper edge of its rectangular section by scoring and having a lock flap extending therefrom; second trapezoidal sections attached to the remaining rectangular sections, each second trapezoidal section having a base coextensive with and connected to the upper edge of its rectangular section by scoring, and having slots adapted to engage and to hold respective lock flaps; a trapezoidal flap extending from and attached by scoring to each second trapezoidal section at a first end thereof; third trapezoidal sections attached to alternate rectangular sections, the base of each third trapezoidal section being coextensive with and connected by scoring to the lower edge of its rectangular section; fourth trapezoidal sections attached to the remaining rectangular sections, the base of each fourth trapezoidal section being coextensive with and connected by scoring to the lower edge of its rectangular section; a triangular flap extending from and attached by scoring to each fourth trapezoidal section at an end thereof, and wherEin each of said slots extend, respectively, from a free edge of each of said second trapezoidal sections toward a corner of each of said second trapezoidal sections defined by the intersection of the base and a second end thereof.
 2. A blank as in claim 1, wherein each of said slots include an extension located at an angle to said slot to facilitate entry of said lock flaps into the slots and to enhance locking of the lock flaps into the slots. 